Device for applying footwear to handicapped persons



H. N. MELING Feb. 10, 1953 DEVICE FOR APPLYING FOOTWEAR TO HANDICAPPED PERSONS Filed Nov. 22, 1950 w .muh n NNW INVENTOR /fvwLo /V. MEE/N6, BY 49.7'm B dan@ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT asiat? OFFICE DEVICE FOR APPLYING FOOTWEAR TO HANDICAIPED PERSONSI 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an appliance for assisting in the application of footwear to a human body by handicapped individuals and particularly those who are unable to bend suiliciently to reach the feet with their arms. The invention more specifically pertains to a device enabling` such handicapped persons to apply their socks or shoes without assistance from other individuals.

An object oi' the invention is to devise an implernent of an elongated construction so .that a stocking or sock may be releasably attached to one end of the device so as to enable a handicapped individual to pull the stocking onto his or her foot and to thereafter release the stocking by manipulating the upper end of the appliance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device so constructed that the two parts may be moved relative to each other by applying force at one end thereof to enable a stocking or the like gripped at the lower end to be detached from the device. v

Other objects and featuresof the invention will be more apparent as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description `wherein an exemplary embodiment vof the invention is disclosed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a strip adapted to be inserted in the upper end of a stocking.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an appliance exhibiting the invention. l

Fig. 3 is a front face View of the device shownv in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line of 1.

The present invention is directed to a device for use by individuals who are so afflicted or handicapped that they are unable to bend their bodies suicientiy to apply stockings over their feet and who are incapable of reaching their feet with .their hands. Individuals thus handicapped have in the past found it necessary to obtain the assistance of another person to apply their socks and shoes. An implement embodying the present invention is adapted lto be attached to the open end of a stocking and by manipulation of the upper end of the appliance the sock may be applied to the foot of such handicapped people. Thereafter the implement may be detached from the stocking.

Referring to the drawing there is shown at IIJ one member which is of elongated construction that when gripped at its upper end Il the lower end I2 will reach beyond the toes of an individual who is unable to bend his or her body at the waist. The lower end I2 of the member I0 is arranged at an angle to the upper and intermediate portions which are substantially straight. A lug Ill projects from one face of the lower end I2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This lug has an enlarged head and a smaller diameter shaft portion as is customary in connection with knobs associated with stocking garters or the like. The member I0 may be formed of metal or any other suitable material such as plastic or the like. The intermediate portion of the member I il carries two iianges I6 and I'I. The flanges may be secured to the strap I5 in any suitable manner or they may be integral with the strap I5. The anges I5 and II provide guides for a second elongated member I8.

The member I8 may be formed of metal or plastic and is adapted to be moved lengthwise relative to the member II). The upper end of the member I8 is arcuate shaped as indicated at 2| to provide means for gripping this portion of .the member I8 with the hands and to thereby effect relative lengthwise movement of the members III and I8. The lower end of the member I8 is provided with a relatively large circular shaped opening 22. This lower portion of the member I8 is arranged at an angle to the upper and intermediate portions and is parallel with the end I2 as shown i'n Fig. 2. The opening 22 is in communication with a slot 24 which has a width only slightly greater than the shaft portion of the lug I 4 under the head thereof. When the member I8 is moved to the left in Figs. 2 and 3 with respect to the member I0 the lug I4 will occupy the position registering with the circular opening 22.

An auxiliary device may be employed to maintain the mouth or upper end of the sock open and a member suitable for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The strip 2E may be formed of any suitable flexible material and have a length so that when the strip is bent in circular shape the resulting band will have a diameter substantially equal to that of the upper end of a stocking. A hole 28 is provided in one end of the strip 2li and a similar hole 29 is provided adjacent the other end.

In use of the device the strip 26 may be bent in circular shape and arranged inside the upper end of a sock or stocking. The holes 28 and 29 are aligned with each other and arranged over the lug i4. A portion of the upper end of the stocking will thereby be pressed over the lug I4. The member I8 is shifted to the right and a portion of the stocking will then be gripped by the edges of the lug i4 and adjacent portions of the member f8. The stocking held by the lower end of the appliance and with the mouth maintained open by the strip 26 in band shape may then be manipulated by gripping the upper end Il of the device. It will be appreciated that the stocking may then be pulled onto the foot. Thereafter the stocking may be released by moving the member I8 downwardly relative to the member I0.

The device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided with a hook-shaped end 3i carried by the upper end of the member I0. This hook may be used in applying a shoe to the foot of a handicapped person. A slot placed in. the tongue of the shoe will permit the hook 3l to enter. The implement may be used to pull the shoe onto the foot after which the hook 3i is disengaged from the shoe. No further operations are necessary to apply the shoe particularly when elastic shoe strings or the like are used in the shoes.

The device shown in Fig. 4 is like that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 except that the upper end of the member i0 is provided with an enlarged portion 32 rather than a hook 3|. This form of the appliance serves as a shoe horn to facilitate the application of the shoe to the foot when pulling forces are not necessary in applying the shoes.

While the invention has been described with regard to specific structural details it will be appreciated that changes may be made in the elements and general organization. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for applying a stocking to a foot, a first elongated member, a lug carried by a lower end of said member, longitudinally extending flanges carried by said member, a second elongated member arranged for guided movement in said flanges, said second member having an opening in a lower end thereof for receiving said lug and a slot communicating with the opening, and means at an upper end of the second member for moving it relative to the rst member.

- intermediate portion, a substantially straight lower portion on said member extending therefrom at an angle with respect to the intermediate portion, a lug projecting from said lower end portion at an obtuse angle with respect to said intermediate portion, a second elongated member having a substantially straight mid portion movable lengthwise relative to the first member, means maintaining said members in assembled parallel relationship during said lengthwise relative movements, a lower end portion on the second member extending therefrom at an angle to said mid portion and substantially parallel to the lower end portion of the first member, the lower end portion of the second member having an opening therethrough and a slot communieating with the opening for receiving and cooperating with the lug in detachably holding a wearing apparel, and means at the upper end of each of said members for moving one member lengthwise relative to the other.

3. In a device for applying wearing apparel over the foot of an individual, an elongated member, a lug carried by a lower end of said member, a second elongated member lying along and adapted to be moved lengthwise relative to the rst member, means maintaining said members in assembled relationship during said relative endwise movements, said second member having an opening in the lower end for receiving said lug and a slot communicating with the opening, a hand-grip member carried by the upper end of one of said members, and a hook shaped handgrip member carried by the upper end of the other of said members.

HAROLD N. MELING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,096 Deiley Sept. 2, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 263,270 Great Britain Dec.,30, 1926 

